§ MR. ADDERLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the 2036 Colonies, Whether any accounts have been received of the people of the provinces of New Zealand, not immediately threatened by Maori hostilities, volunteering for the assistance of their fellow-colonists at Taranaki; whether any intimation has been received from the Colonial Govenment of its intention to propose to the Colonial Parliament any Vote for the purpose of contributing to the expense of the Civil War; or whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government that the whole expense should be defrayed from the Imperial Treasury?
§ MR. CHILDERSsaid, he also would beg to ask whether any offers of assistance in suppressing the insurrection in New Zealand has been made by the people of the Australian Colonies, and particularly by those of Victoria?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, in answer to the last question he could state that the Government were aware that very liberal and gallant offers had been made by the Australian Colonies, and particularly from Melbourne, whence the volunteers were ready to proceed if necessary to New Zealand to assist their fellow-countrymen in their struggle. He was not, however, aware that any of these offers had been accepted, or that any of those volunteers had actually gone to New Zealand. With respect to New Zealand itself, they knew that the inhabitants of Auckland had been active in regard to the raising of volunteer militia for the defence of their own neighbourhood should it unfortunately be attacked; but, as far as the Government were aware, they had not proceeded, and were not likely to proceed to Taranaki. The Government had not heard of any proposition on the part of the Governor to submit such a Vote as his right hon. Friend's question referred to the Colonial Parliament, which had not yet met; but they had no reason to believe that it was the intention of the New Zealand Government to call upon the Imperial Government to defray the expense of the efforts made by the colonists in the way of raising volunteers and militia. It would be premature now to announce what would be the arrangements of Her Majesty's Government in respect to defraying the cost of the hostilities still in progress.